MADRID: Spain’s interior minister called for calm on Friday after residents of Ceuta clashed with police during protests against migrants who have remained in the North African enclave following a mass influx.
Tensions have been high in the territory of 80,000 people since at least 60,000 people crossed into Ceuta over several days in July, triggering a Europe-wide migrant alert.
Spain’s leftist government says most have since left the enclave of 18.5 square kilometers (seven square miles) but thousands remain wandering the streets and sleeping on beaches.
Demonstrations have intensified in recent days, with some protesters clashing with police on Thursday at a beach where migrants have been sleeping. Some of their belongings were burned.
A soldier was injured in a separate incident on Thursday when migrants threw stones at troops, while 12 Moroccan migrants were arrested.
